AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What do you need from me?” I ask, and he sighs. “Oh God, what?”
“Stephen and Maverick have asked for a dossier on Marco. They want everything we can get on him. I’m sorry, Portia, you’re the person who knows him best. I need you on it.”
I take a steady breath. “I’ll do it,” I assure him. “I’ll have it done by the end of the day.” I know how important it is. I’m able to push aside my fears and tribulations and do what’s needed.
“Thank you,” he says softly. “If you need help, Robert’s on hand.”
I grin. “So, how do you know Stephen and Maverick? Where are they coming from?”
He runs his hand through his hair again. He does it a lot when he’s agitated. “I met them when I lived in the UK. Stephen and Maverick live in Ireland. They work for a gang. Their boss is one of the biggest in Europe and has a lot of connections. Stephen isn’t exactly a friendly guy. In fact, he rarely speaks to those he doesn’t know.”
“Ah, so like most of the men you employ,” I quip, and he smiles.
“I’ve got to go. I’ve got a lot to get sorted before they arrive.” He sounds harried, and it leaves me wondering just how well he knows the two men who are flying over from Ireland.
I nod. “I’ve got to get the dossier ready. Let me know when Jamie checks in,” I ask, knowing it’ll be on my mind until she does.
I glance at the clock and see it’s almost eight in the morning. She usually checks in around nine, but sometimes before that. I’m going to be a wreck until I hear that she’s okay.
Every thirty minutes, I’m checking my cell for a message telling me Jamie’s okay, but I get nothing. I’m hoping it’s just Robert forgetting to let me know, so I try to push it from my mind.
I glance at the clock for what feels like the hundredth time today and see it’s three o’clock in the afternoon, and there’s not been a word about Jamie checking in. I tap my pen against the file I’ve created. I have everything that I remember about Marco and his son, along with the men he has. I’ve inputted the conversation I overheard that last night I was in the house, and I’ve listed everything I’ve learned since being on the streets. It’s not a lot, but it’s a hell of a lot more than what we had.
I push to my feet, lifting the dossier in my hand and marching out of the office. I need to know if Jamie has checked in.
“Robert,” I call out. He’s the only one in the office today. He’s working on trying to locate Marco’s cell and pinpoint his location.
“Portia,” he greets as he lifts his head to face me. “Is that the dossier?”
I nod as I hand it to him. “Everything I know and remember is in here.” I pause as I glance around his office. “Has Jamie checked in yet?” I ask.
His brow furrows together. “Now that you mention it, no, she hasn’t,” he says, his words slow and precise. “Portia—”
I shake my head and cut him off. “I’m heading to the streets. You call Kelvin and let him know she hasn’t made contact. We need to find her, Robert.” I turn on my heel and rush back to my office, flipping the lock and stripping out of my office clothes. It’s time to dress up as though I belong on the streets.
It usually takes me around two hours to perfect the look, but right now, I don’t have those hours to waste. I need to be on the streets and searching for Jamie as soon as possible.
“Portia,” Robert says as I exit my office. He’s shifting from foot to foot. “Be careful,” he tells me. “Kelvin’s not happy. He doesn’t want you on the street alone.”
“I need to be,” I say with a sigh. “No one else has made a connection with the people who live on the streets other than me. I’m the only one who can do this. For Jamie’s sake.”
He nods. “I know,” he says quietly. “It’s shit, but you’re our only hope. Find her, Portia.”
I nod and make my way out of the building. I take a steadying breath. This isn’t going to be a quick search. This is going to take a long time. It could take days for me to find her if she’s not in her usual spot.
“Well, lookie who’s back. You’ve not been gone long this time, new girl,” Eli greets with an affectionate smile.
I shrug. “I didn’t feel like drifting far this time. It’s hard to know what to do these days, what with all the women disappearing. None of them to be seen again.”
He nods. “Tell me about it,” he growls. “I’m sick of it. There’s nothing being done by the fucking cops. We don’t matter to them. We’re not important enough for them to take notice. What’s another dozen homeless women and girls going missing to them? It means nothing.”
My blood runs cold. That means they’ve been reported, and no one has looked into it. Fuck.
“What do you mean?” I ask, playing stupid.
“That Teddy guy,” he says, nodding to the solemn guy who’s sitting on the ground, his back against the wall. He looks downcast, and he’s lost a lot of weight since I first met him. Back then, he had a woman, one I haven’t seen since the first night I met him.
“What about him?”
